The Ne'er-Do-Well eBook

Together they hastened to the railroad building, Runnels
telling all he knew of the tragedy as they went along.
Cortlandt’s body, it seemed, had been found
about daylight by a Spiggoty policeman, who had identified
it. Becoming panic-stricken at the importance
of his discovery, he had sounded the alarm, then reported
directly to the Governor, whose house was close by.
It was General Alfarez himself who had informed Mrs.
Cortlandt over the telephone of her husband’s
death. The whole city was alive with the news,
the police were buzzing like bees. Rumors of
suicide, murder, robbery were about, but no one seemed
to know anything definite. Colonel Jolson in
his motor-car had just come from Culebra, and Colonel
Bland was on No. 5 from Gatun, hence Runnels’
desire to be at the station.

“It was suicide,” Kirk averred, with conviction.
“The man was insane last night, and that accounts
for what he said about me. He’s been sick
for a long time.”

“If those boys will only keep their mouths shut!”
Runnels said, anxiously. “There’s
no telling what these Spiggoties might do if they
heard about that row.”

“Cortlandt was an American.”

“But it happened in Panama, and it would be
their affair.”

Although it was Sunday, the four young fellows who
had taken part in the entertainment on the night before
had gathered in the office, and at the appearance
of Runnels greeted him eagerly. Toward Kirk,
however, they maintained a disheartening constraint.

The Acting Superintendent began to caution them tersely.

“Boys, there’s no use to tell you that
we must keep still about what happened last night.
Kirk thinks Cortlandt’s mind was unbalanced;
but whether it was or not, he left a widow, and what
went on at that supper must never leak out.”

“Why do you think he was crazy?” Wade
inquired.

“His actions last night would show it,”
Kirk answered. “The man must have been
out of his mind to believe or to say such a thing.”

“You mean, then, that he shot himself?”

Kirk nodded.

“I don’t agree with you. I’ve
seen crazy people, but he was as sane as any of us.
And I don’t believe in secrecy, either.
I think we ought to be entirely frank about the matter.
The truth never hurt anybody.”

“It’s a bad business,” said Runnels,
“and it’s something I for one don’t
want to be mixed up in. I’ve heard rumors
already about some sort of a quarrel at our party,
so I’m afraid you fellows have been talking.”

Wade acknowledged it recklessly. “Yes,
I’ll answer for my part, and I’m not going
to make any promise of secrecy, either. If that
affair had anything to do with Steve Cortlandt’s
death, it ought to be known, so the man who did it
can be made to answer.”

Into the office behind them came Ramon Alfarez and
two Panamanian policemen, one evidently a sergeant.

“Eh, there you are!” Alfarez cried, as
he caught sight of Kirk. Then he said something
in Spanish to the sergeant, who advanced and laid
hands upon the American. “You are arrest’.”